Is it ok for a NCOPD Small Group Leader (Instructor) to share their failures with students?

2019-10-23T22:08:50-04:00

So I am a very humble person. Today my SLC students had an SFAB brief during their schedule. After the brief and back in class I asked how many were wanting to go SFAB. Some were reluctant to answer and others said "No." We had a short discussion after I was trying to motivate them to attend selection. I attended selection last year and did not make the cut due to my ruck being five lbs under weight after the ruck March and I shared it with them in Hope's that they wouldnt make the same mistake if they wish to assess.. Afterwards, I thought that I shouldn't have shared that with them. Is sharing failures ok as a leader?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 10:33 PM

2019-10-23T22:33:12-04:00

Of course.
And anyone who says otherwise is a fool.

Failure is the best teacher

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 23 at 2019 10:53 PM

2019-10-23T22:53:18-04:00

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I think if you have a good rapport with your students and Moment and the lesson is right for that and you are comfortable, it's ok.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 11:11 PM

2019-10-23T23:11:37-04:00

Sharing failures wit your students, with your Soldiers, is a critical learning point for them. It allows them to see that everyone fails at some point and that it is human to do so. It’s what happens after a failure that shows how resiliency positively impacts the unit or Soldier’s career. Center for Army Lessons Learned is full of “what we did to improve” information, highly encouraged to visit the CALL website. In my opinion more Leaders should share failures and what they did to overcome them. You’re building a better Army by doing so.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2019 11:47 PM

2019-10-23T23:47:43-04:00

I learn from the success and failures of others. It makes you better knowing how you failed and your students better for gaining a better understanding of the world in a sense.

Response by TSgt David Holman made Oct 24 at 2019 12:00 AM

2019-10-24T00:00:54-04:00

If done in context as a teaching moment, then absolutely. It can help bring humanity to someone in a position of authority and respect, and can help to show that when we learn from failure we grow.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 24 at 2019 1:08 AM

2019-10-24T01:08:15-04:00

I find it compelling leaders share lessons learned. It is a necessary cross talk.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Oct 24 at 2019 1:10 AM

2019-10-24T01:10:34-04:00

Failing ‘Selection’ is no big deal! You went and know what is Selection is all about. SFC Private RallyPoint Member Did you consider trying: http://www.awg.army.mil/SitewideContent/docs/AWG_CommandBrief.pdf

AWG_CommandBrief.pdf

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 6:37 AM

2019-10-24T06:37:22-04:00

If you do it the right way, it will add a sense of humanity and trust. People fail. It’s what we do...but when we see our leaders fail too and still reach their goals because they didn’t give up, that motivates us to do better things!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 8:17 AM

2019-10-24T08:17:29-04:00

It honest. Do it.

Response by CPT Ray Gilmore made Oct 24 at 2019 8:22 AM

2019-10-24T08:22:26-04:00

We learn more from failures, than we ever do from success.

Of course you should share.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 24 at 2019 9:21 AM

2019-10-24T09:21:45-04:00

Of course! We learn far more from our failures than our successes...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 9:48 AM

2019-10-24T09:48:30-04:00

Yes. It is okay. How else will future leaders learn to not make the same mistakes/failures we made if we don't share our mistakes/failures?

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 24 at 2019 10:53 AM

2019-10-24T10:53:39-04:00

Almost every success has its origins in failure, since we learn more from failure than success.

Share away.

Response by Cpl Andrew Tucker made Oct 24 at 2019 11:04 AM

2019-10-24T11:04:03-04:00

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
-Winston S. Churchill

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2019 12:15 PM

2019-10-24T12:15:01-04:00

"The greatest teacher, failure is." Yoda
Failure is why we study history in the first place. Not learning from your own or other's failure is why a certain horrible person decided to invade Russia with winter around the corner, and we all know how that worked out.

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Oct 24 at 2019 3:31 PM

2019-10-24T15:31:47-04:00

Teach them that failure is an opportunity for improvement, not the end of the world. Reflect on what happened, make a better plan and keep on marching.
You keep doing what you are doing...you and your troops will be better for it.

Response by SSG George Holtje made Oct 25 at 2019 9:20 AM

2019-10-25T09:20:07-04:00

Yes. It’s not ok to lie and say “I made E5 in 18 months, I made E5(p) in 3 years’

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Oct 25 at 2019 2:40 PM

2019-10-25T14:40:36-04:00

Yes; if it adds additional incite to the training at hand.
I was very successful as a Soldier and NCO but in growing into that success, I had some pretty interesting set backs and situations that were overcome with different projects and missions and the occasional cautionary tale helped emphasize the importance of things like PCC's and PCI's and mission planning, CRM and safety, and field expedient solutions to issues and the importance of teamwork. It helps folks realize that if they pay attention to what their equipment and gears capabilities are and learn sound doctrine they can overcome most obstacles they'll encounter .

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Oct 27 at 2019 11:42 AM

2019-10-27T11:42:21-04:00

The best Unit DCO I have known in the army went to Delta Selection every time they had one while in the Unit, he never made it. He was a Vietnam War Hero that COL Beckwith hand picked and was respected by all. Everyone learns by making mistake. You are a good leader.